Burnley cannabis dealer thanked for his honesty

A Burnley man caught with between £700 and £900-worth of cannabis in his home has been ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

Daniel Holt (32), of Waddington Avenue, had admitted possession with intent to supply the Class B drug at a preliminary hearing and was appearing for sentence.

Police had visited his home in June, after receiving a tip-off from the community, and were greeted by a woman and the smell of cannabis.

The woman went to get her partner, Holt, from the bedroom, and he initially said he was not happy for a search to take place.

However, he quickly changed his mind, and brought down a black make-up bag containing 20lb and 10lb bags of cannabis.

He said: “I’m only dealing a bit of weed, it’s nothing”. It transpired there were 30 10lb bags and 20 20lb bags of cannabis bush, weighing 61.7g. A total of £130 in cash was also seized.

During a police interview, the defendant, who has no previous convictions, said he had been going through a hard time and was trying to make extra cash by selling cannabis. He said he had only been doing it for three weeks to “family and friends”.

Philip Holden (defending) said Holt is usually of good character and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Recorder Barry Searle handed Holt a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work and pay an £80 victim surcharge. Recorder Searle said: “They [the police] formed the view that what you told them was the truth and they thanked you for your honesty - I’ve not come across that before in nearly 40 years, so they must have been impressed by what was going on there.”

He said he appreciated there were family difficulties being experienced. “I understand the position, but it is not an excuse for what you were doing,” he said.

“I am told you and your partner are back together and getting support financially. If you go near those drugs again and don’t divorce yourself from them, there is going to be serious consequences.”